What have hope and change brought us?

Ron StevensBe Our Guest

Published: Monday, January 9, 2012 at 4:30 a.m.

Last Modified: Friday, January 6, 2012 at 7:02 p.m.

As the Republicans battle for the presidential nomination, it’s incumbent upon all of us, Republican, Democrat or independent, to recall the mistakes this country made when it elected Barack Obama as the 44th president of the United States.

Facts

Stevens is a Hendersonville resident.

Why was he elected? Because of two magic words: hope and change! He promised to transform this nation and offered hope to us. I leave it to the electorate to judge whether Obama has succeeded. However, I would suggest two other words that epitomize Obama: hubris and audacity.

Wikipedia defines hubris as extreme haughtiness, pride or arrogance. Hubris often indicates a loss of contact with reality and an overestimation of one’s own competence or capabilities, especially when the person exhibiting it is in a position of power.

What more apt way to describe Obama?

Who else but someone who overestimates his own competence or capabilities could make the following statement? “I would put our legislative and foreign policy accomplishments in our first two years against any president — with the possible exceptions of Johnson, FDR and Lincoln ... just in terms of what we’ve gotten done in modern history” (“60 Minutes,” Dec. 14, 2011).

Better than any president? Better than both Washington and Jefferson? Wow!

The second word (audacity) is defined by the Free Dictionary on the Internet as follows: 1. Fearless daring, intrepidity; 2. Bold or insolent heedlessness of restraints; 3. An act or instance of intrepidity or insolent heedlessness.

It is apparently no coincidence that President Obama’s first book, published in 2006, is titled, “The Audacity of Hope.” The book is interestingly subtitled, “Thoughts on Reclaiming the American Dream.” Once again, Obama betrays his undisguised antipathy toward America. Who else but a self-involved, first-term senator would dare consider it his task to “reclaim the American dream”?

His much heralded remarks on the U.S. economy in Osawatomie, Kan., reveal even less understanding of America and things American. Obama quoted Teddy Roosevelt, in 1910, also in Osawatomie, Kan., on what Roosevelt called a New Nationalism: “Our country means nothing unless it means the triumph of a real democracy ... of an economic system under which each man shall be guaranteed to show the best that there is in him.”

Who couldn’t agree with that? Unfortunately, Obama came to office as the most unqualified president in history and hasn’t practiced Roosevelt’s New Nationalism.

His naiveté is shown in his “cogent” analysis of why the American economy is suffering, also while in Osawatomie: “And these changes didn’t just affect blue-collar workers. If you were a bank teller or a phone operator or a travel agent, you saw many in your profession replaced by ATMs and the Internet.” One is tempted to scream ouch!

So what have “hope and change” produced after three years of Obama’s stewardship? Unemployment at 8.6 percent now (soon to adjusted upward, no doubt) and the national debt hovering at more than $15 trillion, or approximately $48,000 for each citizen.

<p>As the Republicans battle for the presidential nomination, it's incumbent upon all of us, Republican, Democrat or independent, to recall the mistakes this country made when it elected Barack Obama as the 44th president of the United States.</p><p>Why was he elected? Because of two magic words: hope and change! He promised to transform this nation and offered hope to us. I leave it to the electorate to judge whether Obama has succeeded. However, I would suggest two other words that epitomize Obama: hubris and audacity.</p><p>Wikipedia defines hubris as extreme haughtiness, pride or arrogance. Hubris often indicates a loss of contact with reality and an overestimation of one's own competence or capabilities, especially when the person exhibiting it is in a position of power.</p><p>What more apt way to describe Obama?</p><p>Who else but someone who overestimates his own competence or capabilities could make the following statement? “I would put our legislative and foreign policy accomplishments in our first two years against any president — with the possible exceptions of Johnson, FDR and Lincoln ... just in terms of what we've gotten done in modern history” (“60 Minutes,” Dec. 14, 2011).</p><p>Better than any president? Better than both Washington and Jefferson? Wow!</p><p>The second word (audacity) is defined by the Free Dictionary on the Internet as follows: 1. Fearless daring, intrepidity; 2. Bold or insolent heedlessness of restraints; 3. An act or instance of intrepidity or insolent heedlessness.</p><p>It is apparently no coincidence that President Obama's first book, published in 2006, is titled, “The Audacity of Hope.” The book is interestingly subtitled, “Thoughts on Reclaiming the American Dream.” Once again, Obama betrays his undisguised antipathy toward America. Who else but a self-involved, first-term senator would dare consider it his task to “reclaim the American dream”?</p><p>His much heralded remarks on the U.S. economy in Osawatomie, Kan., reveal even less understanding of America and things American. Obama quoted Teddy Roosevelt, in 1910, also in Osawatomie, Kan., on what Roosevelt called a New Nationalism: “Our country means nothing unless it means the triumph of a real democracy ... of an economic system under which each man shall be guaranteed to show the best that there is in him.”</p><p>Who couldn't agree with that? Unfortunately, Obama came to office as the most unqualified president in history and hasn't practiced Roosevelt's New Nationalism.</p><p>His naiveté is shown in his “cogent” analysis of why the American economy is suffering, also while in Osawatomie: “And these changes didn't just affect blue-collar workers. If you were a bank teller or a phone operator or a travel agent, you saw many in your profession replaced by ATMs and the Internet.” One is tempted to scream ouch!</p><p>So what have “hope and change” produced after three years of Obama's stewardship? Unemployment at 8.6 percent now (soon to adjusted upward, no doubt) and the national debt hovering at more than $15 trillion, or approximately $48,000 for each citizen.</p><p>Please, no more change!</p>